Facilities: Stadium & Arena

The State Building Commission gave its approval Thursday for East Tennessee State University to proceed with the first phase of construction of a 10,000-seat football stadium, primarily funded with student fees.

The Atlanta-based air carrier will sponsor an 18,000-square-foot lounge with walnut wood ceilings, memorabilia displays, two kitchens and a 30-foot-long bar with a marble-slab top --- along with a more casual sports bar with 20-foot-long televisions --- inside the new stadium when it opens in 2017.

There is some reason for optimism the sales tax can be retired sooner than later. Last year, the district experienced an increase in sales tax revenue of 8.78%, which is far higher than in recent years.

Faced with a tight schedule to open in 2017, the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros want to get a head start this month on their proposed $135 million spring training complex south of 45th Street -- even without a needed land-use approval from the state Legislature.

The Maine Red Claws might play basketball on Thompson's Point eventually, but with no definite plans for an arena on that 32-acre site along the Fore River, the team is investing in new seating at the Portland Expo.